Pakistan Civil Society Forum is launched

Pakistan Civil Society Forum is launched

Islamabad Resolution 

by National Consultation of Civil Society Organizations

ISLAMABAD: A representative forum of civil society organisations from across Pakistan met today in Islamabad to discuss ways for effective engagement with federal and, provincial governments and state institutions, civil society and concerned citizens for strengthening a representative democracy, citizenship, and social and economic justice through coordinated and focused lobbying and actions. 

The national consultation held at the Aurat Foundation’s office was convened by South-Asia Partnership- Pakistan and participated by leading civil society organizations endorsed the following resolution :

We RECOGNIZE the significance and importance of this assembly in the back drop of present scenario where the country is faced with serious problems of bad governance including terrorism, lawlessness, rising poverty, energy crisis and other economic challenges. We also note with pleasure the smooth transition of power from one elected government to the other. However, we consider it important to stress on the newly elected government to take the democratic traditions forward and address to the urgent and important issues of public ensuring people centered governance.

We BELIEVE that neither the country’s development nor its policy making adequately involves public participation. As a result of the top down development, the implementation gaps notwithstanding, issues of ownership, ecology, access to resources stand majorly compromised. We emphasise that planning and development must be a bottom-up approach and the state must make an effort to make people’s involvement in their own development and future possible.

We NOTE with concern a gradual indiscernible reversal of devolution through the Constitutional Reforms (18th Amendment) that will deprive the people of Pakistan of a landmark gain through a democratic process. Ambiguities in the responsibilities and authorities of the federal and provincial institutions demand clarity and reconstitution of roles. We believe the constitution and 18th Amendment must be considered as guiding principles to determine the role of the federal government and provincial governments. Federal government’s obsession with trespassing into provinces’ domain will have far reaching ramifications. This approach has intensified a deep rooted distrust among federating units and must be refrained forthwith. There is a need to take devolution process from provinces to district level with substantive institutional reforms and genuine representation of the public.

We are also TROUBLED with issues of gender discrimination, growing intolerance against non-Muslims and the rising trends of ethnic and sectarian violence all over the country.

We are HUMBLED with the contribution and gains of civil society organizations in upholding citizens’ rights, relentless struggle for fundamental freedoms, free judiciary and democratic development. This assembly concludes with this resolve to continue its struggle for further deepening democratic processes and traditions through coordinated and focused actions among diverse civil society groups and institutions.

We RESOLVE forming the Pakistan Civil Society Forum as a joint platform of action, coordination and engagement with government, national and international institutions. We believe this platform will be instrumental in promoting joint actions for citizens’ rights and bridge the gap between government and people, advocate issues of fundamental importance to people and reemphasize important issues in the national agenda. 

THE Forum REAFFIRMS its commitment for continuing its struggle for citizens’ rights and democratic, human and social development in the country.

We REASSURE our constituents to become a viable and effective platform for coordination, collective actions, lobbying and engagement with diverse actors including political parties, federal and provincial governments, media, national and international institutions.

A national level core committee has been formed comprising representatives of all federating units and rights-based organizations. The committee will engage other CSOs, public representatives, state institutions and concerned citizens for further diversifying its support base.

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FPCCI chief lauds Chinese cooperation in various fields

China expresses renewed interest in expanding economic ties

High-powered Chinese delegation expresses interest in energy project

Islamabad:

Dated: August 19

China on Monday expressed renewed interest in increasing bilateral economic ties and vowed to resolve Pakistan’s energy crisis by investing the ailing sector.

The pledge was made in a meeting between officials of Policy Research Office, Kunmíng, the capital and largest city of Yunnan province in Southwest China and President FPCCI Zubair Ahmed Malik.

Speaking at the occasion, Director of Policy Research Office Mr Yuan Peiwen, having expertise in solar and wind power, said that they have come to Pakistan to have direct communication with business community to explore ways and means to enhance economic cooperation which include

We are here to improve understanding and to resolve problems of the local exporters, he added.

He said that two-way trade has picked up to 12 billion dollars in last five years Pakistan’s exports registering 48.2 per cent growth in one year. He hoped that target of 15 billion dollar of bilateral trade would be met by 2015.

The biggest increase in Pakistan’s exports to China in 2012 were textiles, vegetable products, ores, mineral products, base metals, marble products etc., said Peiwen adding that Pakistani business community will be provided every possible facility in China.

Speaking on the occasion, President FPCCI Zubair Ahmed Malik said that China is now Pakistan’s biggest trading partner.

He lauded Chinese government and business community is expansion of Pakistani business community in their country saying that opportunities being provided will go a long way in cementing ties.

China is on way to become the largest energy consuming country of the world in which Pakistan is fully cooperating through proposed energy corridor, said Malik.

He said Chinese economic policies are based on partnership and political equality which is highly encouraging.

Lauding the recent pledges by Chinese companies to invest heavily in Pakistan’s energy sector, the leader of the business community said that maximum resources should be utilized for controlling energy crisis for the development of the country.

He said that government is attaching top priority to resolving energy problem and all out encouragement is being extended to local and foreign investors.

China is a trusted friend of Pakistan and has played a commendable role in its development.

Pakistan is a poor country which needs to generate power at minimum cost to cope with the energy problem which has compromised growth, said Zubair Ahmed Malik.

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Govt asked to promote new investments in energy sector

No poverty reduction sans ample energy

Provision of energy imperative to transform lives

Energy enables people to work their way out of poverty

August 19

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday asked the government to promote new investments in the energy sector by introducing better regulations as poverty cannot be reduced in presence of energy scarcity.

Access to energy is imperative to transform lives which is not getting proper attention on the national and global level as majority of Pakistanis as well as a third of the world’s population has no access to modern energy services, it said.

Tens of millions in Pakistan and 1.3 billion people worldwide are still without any form of electricity and 2.7 billion people still cook over open fires despite availability of solutions, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

Estimates say in the next seventeen years three billion will cook with traditional fuels, more than 30 million people will have died due to smoke-related diseases and hundreds of millions will be confined to poverty due to lack of energy, he informed.

Of those who don’t have access to modern energy around 70 per cent are women who spend significant time and money to obtain energy that is not only unpredictable, expensive, unsafe, and highly polluting, he said.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that lack of access to electricity also prevents the development of key social programmes like education, health, sanitation and provision of clean drinking water, continuing a cycle of poverty that is very difficult to break.

He said that energy is vital to escape poverty but unfortunately lack of interest on the part of governments has left a third of the world’s population has no access to modern energy services which is impeding global growth.

He said that Pakistan government should boost efforts to tame energy crisis and promote new investments as provision of electricity is linked to development of agriculture, industry, trade,  jobs, medicine, sanitation and water purification.

Every dollar invested in a solar energy generates more than $46 in economic benefits in the first year alone; it results in a stronger economy, a healthier population, and enables parents to ensure a bright future for their families.

He said that energy enables people to work their way out of poverty, it provides better access to basic services while improving health and wellbeing of everyone, especially that of women and children.

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Captive Power lobby biggest hurdle in resolution of energy crisis

Captive Power lobby biggest hurdle in resolution of energy crisis

June 27, 2013

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said influential lobby of the owners of Captive Power Plants (CPPs) which is wasting gas worth Rs70 billion per annum is one of the biggest hurdle is the resolution of the energy crisis in Pakistan.

The incumbent government seems helpless as the powerful lobby which has been getting natural gas at dirt cheap prices since last five years without the permission of Ogra and Nepra is still enjoying unprecedented influence in the corridors of power, it said.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that those who are getting natural gas at 91 per cent discounted rates as compare to furnace oil are being patronized despite the opposition by Planning Commission and Ogra while they have sent packing four federal secretaries which has terrified the entire bureaucracy.

A former Advisor petroleum changed gas provision priority list for three times within twenty days illegally and without the consent of concerned institutions including Council of Common Interests, he said.

Murtaza Mughal said that gas load management policy available on SNGPL clearly indicates that masses are on the top of the priority list while CPPs are at the bottom which was violated by the former government while incumbent government seems in no mood the correct the matter.

Rules clearly indicate the CPPs can get gas when it is surplus, its usage remains within 1 mmcfd and the owner of any CPP invests Rs500 million minimum. Not only all these conditions are being violated but some owners of the primitive CPPs have closed down their units while selling electricity to others to distribute spoils with government officials.

He said that the situation warrants action which has been put on the backburner since long which is increasing plight of masses and budget deficit resulting in severe energy crunch.

It may be mentioned that government figures reveal the number of CPPs at 113 which are getting 450 mmcfd gas daily to waster 326 mmcfd which translated into annual loss of Rs70 billion.

The gas load management policy of 2013 has not been approved by the competent forums and its imposition could be a bid to sweep facts under the carpet which include unholy collusion between the owners of CPPs and top government functionaries. 

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Iranian company offers quick solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis

Iranian company offers quick solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis

MAPNA ready to invest heavily across Pakistan

May 31^st

An Iran based global company has offered immediate solution to the Pakistan’s prevalent power crisis which has pulled economy down and crippled general life.

Iran Power Plant Projects Management Company (MAPNA), the sixth largest power company in the world says that it can bridge gap between demand and supply of electricity within months.

A delegation headed by Muhammad Hussain Baqri, head of international communications MAPNA said this while talking to Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW).

He said that Iran’s installed capacity is 70000 MW out of which MAPNA is providing 67000 MW and we can easily provide up to 10000 MW to Pakistan on most economical rates as compare to any neighbouring country. Pakistan’s current electricity shortfall stands at 7000 MW.

Baqri said that MAPNA, having 39 subsidiaries, has its own gas fields and power plants construction facilities. It has been operating in 18 countries and it can also build power plants having international standards within 15 months with 20 per cent discounted rates.

He said that the 30 billion euro company has also interests in oil and gas, wind power and railways and it is willing Pakistan improve its railways.

The delegation also expressed interest in the setting up power plants of 1000 MW capacity and to supply and install 25 MW small power plants on ground as well as on barges to help Pakistan in overcoming the energy crisis on urgent basis

At the occasion Dr Murtaza Mughal welcomed the company to start operations in Pakistan and asked them to forward solid proposals for maintenance of power plants as their ability has been compromised due to neglect spanned over a decade.

He said that Pakistani policymakers should consider negotiating construction of large scale power plants on a turn-key basis with Iranian enterprise.

A new business friendly government is set to take charge which will improve overall investment environment in Pakistan and boost confidence of local and foreign investors, said Dr Mughal. 

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